117 Here and There, Whats the Difference? 3 (1/2)
”Your Imperial Highness, when will we exit from the forest?”
Luo Xi raised the question that had tore at her mind in anxiety whilst Feng Yu Xin was wolfing down a large piece of venison.
The empress paused to give the young maiden a spiteful glare, for in her surprise, the rest of the meat on the stick had fallen onto the ground.
…as a result, An Fei was the unfortunate victim selected to fetch the woman another stick spearing a large collection of venison.
”Leaving the forest… at our pace, it should take no longer than three more days…”
Having obtained her trophy, Feng Yu Xin spoke between bites, her demeanor completely unlike that of an Imperial Empress of Great Yong.
The empress seemed not to care about the ogling gazes from the onlooking Young Misses of Jiang'an, cheerfully conversing with Luo Xi whilst commanding An Fei to obtain more venison.
”Three days?” Luo Xi repeated in an astounded voice.
”Then… are we centered around the outskirts of the forest?”
”Not quite, albeit after three days, we should indeed have reached the outskirts of the forest.” The empress chuckled.
”Then… the transference array launched us into the depths of the forest?” Zhang Yuewen thanked An Fei for the meat before turning around in confusion.
”What about the creatures Your Imperial Highness mentioned? Those…”
”Oh? You mean those spiritual beasts capable of slaughtering a cultivator of the Core Formation Realm?”
Feng Yu Xin revealed a thin sneer, the beautiful countenance lighting up the expressions of those near the bonfire.
”Those spiritual beasts only reside within the central regions of the forest due to the higher concentration of spiritual qi in the atmosphere. Unless they were hunting for food for a cub or youngling, those creatures would usually disdain to even emerge into the outer regions.”
”Oh…”
The young maidens revealed an expression of understanding at the empress' concise explanation, though they harbored the hope that the current journey would remain peaceful until they exited from the forest.
Zhang Yuewen revealed her hopeful look without a single care, yet Luo Xi noted that it was ever-increasingly difficult to fathom what other chaos the belle was likely to incur.
It was at that time that An Fei returned once more, her hands empty unlike the usual trips Feng Yu Xin forced her to undergo.
Similarly, the young girl revealed a dark expression easily noticeable through the veil, a faint aura of gloominess emanating from her body.
”Hm?” Feng Yu Xin frowned, her left hand absentmindedly rubbing her stomach.
”You didn't bring any back?”
”…there was no more.”
The young girl replied with a flat tone.
Just seconds later, a suppressed growl escaped her stomach, causing the An Fei's expression to darken even further.
”Ah…” Zhang Yuewen sighed with an apologetic expression on her attractive countenance.
”Sorry about that. Sister Fei, you can have mine, no need to starve yourself.”
In her preoccupied state of conversing with the empress, the belle had forgotten that the stick of speared venison was clutched in her hand.
Although An Fei received a stick of venison that was untouched, the meat had gotten rather stale, the delicious fats having dripped onto the ground over time.
The young girl puffed her cheeks in annoyance, turning away from the rest to consume the ruined meat in silence.
”Ah…” Feng Yu Xin scratched her head with an awkward expression, gazing at the young girl with a look of pity.
However, the thought of an angered Wei Xuan blaspheming her name and accusing her of mistreating his daughter was sufficient for the empress to offer a token of compensation.
”Xiao An Fei, sorry for making you starve whilst we ate, ah. When we get back to the carriage, let bengong treat you with some of bengong's treasured yuebing– eat to your heart's content!”
After all, a promise guaranteed by a Faceless coin was a little too stringent and harsh… she definitely couldn't be lax and laid-back as she wanted too…
Hearing the exorbitant compensation offered by the apologetic empress, An Fei didn't hesitate for a moment as she grasped the olive branch with earnest.
The young girl turned back around to face the rest of the group, her small, adorable mouth chewing on cooled venison with a surprising amount of vigor.
The looks of apology and pity from the Young Misses of the Zhang and Luo families instantly transformed into those of envy, an underlying intent in their eyes as they directed a deep gaze towards An Fei.
The target in question continued to savor the vestiges of what used to be succulent venison, ignoring the pleas from Zhang Yuewen and Luo Xi.
You merely sat by as I had to run back and forth delivering meat for the three of you, thus you won't get any mooncake!